Aeoliscus strigatus (Günther 1861, aka Centriscus strigatus, Amphisle strigata; 15cm) is the extant razorfish or shrimpfish. In the LRT it nests as with the sea horse, Hippocampus. Thus Aeoliscus can be though of as an upside-down sea horse despite the great morphological difference. The dorsal fins have migrated to the caudal area. The caudal fin migrates to the anal area, bending the vertebral column to do so. The tiny mouth, perhaps the smallest among vertebrates, is used to sweep up minute brine shrimp. The operculum is rather large, likely to produce suction for the tube mouth.
The preopercular extends anteriorly beyond the orbit, merging with the quadrate. The lacrimal is absent. As in the sea horse the naris is close to the orbit. The orbit is confluent with the antorbital fenestra. The supratemporal is absent or fused.
The streamlined shape of Aeoliscus was not built for speed, but for hiding among sea grasses and other vertical sea floor environmental elements. The counter-shading of the body increases the illusion of slender background elements.
This taxon lives among sea urchins, protected by their poisonous spines. Fertilized eggs and hatchlings drift without parental care. Males and females are nearly identical. |
